- Genre: Hip-Hop
- Similar Artists: AZ, Foxy Brown, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Busta Rhymes, Kid Capri, Devin, Smif-n-Wessun, Fat Joe, Three 6 Mafia, Marvaless, Nonchalant, Sh'Killa, Kingpin Skinny Pimp, Xzibit, Ras Kass, Tela, Jay-Z, Trick Daddy Dollars, Prophet Posse, Rampage, Cocoa Brovaz, The Firm, Jake the Flake, The Hot Boys, Big Punisher, Mr. Money Loc, Land of the Heartless, Fatal, Big Tymers, B.L.H.U.N.T., Concentration Camp, Indo G, A-G-2-A-KE, Flipmode Squad, Gangsta Boo, Bad Azz, Darq Age, 5 Cent, Tear Da Club Up Thugs, Fat Pat, Tragedy, Ja Rule, Big Gank, Infinite, Lil' Blunt, Memphis Bleek, Bigg Nastee, Sticky Fingaz, Styles, Don Dinero, Smif-N-Wessun, Styles P
One-half of the Queens hardcore rap duo Capone-N-Noreaga, Victor "Noreaga" Santiago met Kiam "Capone" Holley in 1992 while both were serving prison sentences. Signed to Penalty Records in 1996, the pair released a hard-hitting debut (The War Report) in June 1997, but after Holley was thrown back in jail on a parole violation, Santiago began recording a solo album. His solo debut, N.O.R.E. -- an acronym for "Niggas on the Run Eating" -- was an all-star affair, with contributions from Foxy Brown, Nas, Busta Rhymes, and Jay-Z, among others. Melvin Flynt -- Da Hustler followed in 1999. His third album, God's Favorite, was delayed several times, but finally appeared in mid-2002. In 2006, he moved to the Def Jam imprint Roc la Familia and released N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe, a mostly reggaeton album featuring guest stars like Nina Sky, Big Mato, and Daddy Yankee, but just the following year he signed to Babygrande to issue Noreality, a more-standard rap record. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
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